Lost Children at WDW

[t_catt11]

I've put together a little article on how to prevent lost children at WDW - and how to handle the situation if they do become lost.

The article link is here - feedback is of course welcomed and appreciated.

 

[BBG-BLT]

Well done actually. I would add don't be afraid to use the child backpack with a leash, especially if your child is a "runner" WDW is the only place we've ever used one. Oh and a stroller with a buckle to "help" your younger ones stay close to do when need be ...

 

[t_catt11]

Stroller buckles are a definite must have for very small children, I agree with this.

Thanks for the kind words!

 

[dudelydude]

I like what you did there. Very well written. We struggle with teaching our kids how to distinguish between finding help if they get lost and a potential abductor who wants to help them "find mommy or daddy." At Disney World, we like to tell them (as you said) to not panic, stay where they are for a few minutes and then find another mommy with kids or walk into any store or restaurant and go to the cash register.

 

[chartle]

I didn't see any mention that CM's will not search your kid.

I have read some posts where parents hide their kids info in some spot like in their shoe and they expect the CM to frisk their kid for the info.

If your kid is old enough you can certainly tell them to show the CM "this" whatever that is, but for a younger or non verbal child you may not want to hide it so much.

 

[t_catt11]

I didn't see any mention that CM's will not search your kid.

I have read some posts where parents hide their kids info in some spot like in their shoe and they expect the CM to frisk their kid for the info.

If your kid is old enough you can certainly tell them to show the CM "this" whatever that is, but for a younger or non verbal child you may not want to hide it so much.

I did mention this in the "stickers" section.

Do not place a sticker inside of your child's clothing, however - cast members may not look beneath clothing for any reason, even if the child tells them that they are wearing such identification.

 

[chartle]

I did mention this in the "stickers" section.

Ok must have missed it.

 

[Bunnyfeather]

Good article. Are you...me? I lost MY son in the same place, same response from CMs, same outcome. It took TEN minutes of heart-stopping hunting time. Two CMs, both his parents and his big sister yelling his name and running around looking for him and he never even realized he was lost.

 

[Jerseyguy's Wife]

Very nicely done. And important to think about before you go. We just got back from Disneyland where our 4 year old DID become separated from us. It was probably only 5 minutes, but it felt like an eternity and panic definitely set in. Thank God we taught our kids to find CMs. When we found him, he was at a food cart with 4 CMs having a drink of water. The boys wear "tails" which are WDW luggage tags with our info inside. I hang them on the kids' belt loops.

 

[t_catt11]

Good article. Are you...me? I lost MY son in the same place, same response from CMs, same outcome. It took TEN minutes of heart-stopping hunting time. Two CMs, both his parents and his big sister yelling his name and running around looking for him and he never even realized he was lost.

LOL @ are you...me?

I expect that this isn't THAT uncommon of a tale.

 

[KrysiaG]

Thank you so much for this post!

 

[t_catt11]

Thank you so much for this post!

Psh, you are welcome. I enjoy putting together any sort of Disney info that can be useful.

 

[Wishes Count]

Great pointers, But let me tell you what we as CM's wish people would do when they realize their child is lost. We understand you are panicked but we need you to stay where you last saw the child for at least 10 mins. Usually one CM will stay with you while others search the store/area When we find a lost child we ask them where was the last place they saw their parent and then we go look there. If you are running around your child cannot find you.

We do have access to phones. Depending on where we are located we may need to call for a manager to come over but we can dial your cell phone number if your child knows it.

 

[t_catt11]

Great pointers, But let me tell you what we as CM's wish people would do when they realize their child is lost. We understand you are panicked but we need you to stay where you last saw the child for at least 10 mins. Usually one CM will stay with you while others search the store/area When we find a lost child we ask them where was the last place they saw their parent and then we go look there. If you are running around your child cannot find you.

We do have access to phones. Depending on where we are located we may need to call for a manager to come over but we can dial your cell phone number if your child knows it.

This is superb advice, and makes a lot of sense. I will edit the article to reflect it.

Thansk for the input!

 

[Grenadyr]

Very nice article. I especially liked the tattoos, I'd never heard of them before.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Lots of advice.
2) But, MUCH simpler,
. . . tell kid to find a person with a Disney name tag
. . . parent go to Guest Services *
3) Voilà !

* lost kids are taken to Guest Services

 

[Wishes Count]

1) Lots of advice.
2) But, MUCH simpler,
. . . tell kid to find a person with a Disney name tag
. . . parent go to Guest Services *
3) Voilà !

* lost kids are taken to Guest Services

Not always. At Epcot we take children under 10 to the Baby Care Center. Your best bet is to find any CM to assist you further.

 

[IcedMudd]

Just a note: Children are NEVER lost in DisneyWorld. Parents can be lost, but not children

 

[t_catt11]

Not always. At Epcot we take children under 10 to the Baby Care Center. Your best bet is to find any CM to assist you further.

Great advice, again.

 

[honey11dog]

Just a note: Children are NEVER lost in DisneyWorld. Parents can be lost, but not children

Exactly what my 3 year old daughter said in Disney one day. We were eating at Columbia Harbor house and had decided to go to the carousel after we ate. My husband and I were cleaning up lunch when we noticed we were missing a child. I can't begin to describe the panic but we immediately notified the CM's in the restaurant. They asked me what she was wearing and they immediately radioed out the info. We searched the entire restaurant and bathrooms and within minutes they informed me she had been found by the carousel. The CM's talked to her about when you are lost to look for someone with a Disney tag. She then said " I wasn't lost my parents were the ones lost." But I do have to say the Disney employees did an excellent job of locating her quickly. Knowing what she was wearing was really important, so always take a mental note of that when you leave each day and being dressed in something bright that can be easily found in a crowd is good too.